ALI Incubator Conference

Program Description

The rapid growth of incubator and residency programs over the past 2 years is proof that good ideas spread fast. Law schools, Legal Aid programs and bar associations across the United States, and now the world, are assuming an increasing role in the development of post-graduate training and support programs for attorneys wishing to establish solo and small firms or not-for-profit organizations. Inherent in these programs is a focus on training lawyers who can help to resolve the unmet legal needs of individuals and entities from moderate to low-income communities while they build economically sustainable practices that will continue to serve those client needs.

These incubator and residency programs are expanding rapidly and reflect the fact that increasingly the people who choose to attend law school do so because they are committed to expanding access to affordable legal services for the mainstream groups that have not been adequately served, and because they recognize that solo and small firm practice has long been the most popular career path for lawyers.

This conference addresses the opportunities and challenges institutions face in the conceptualization, design and implementation of successful incubators and residency programs.

It is co-sponsored by:

California Western School of Law

Touro Law Center

UMKC School of Law

The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services

State Bar of California Access to Justice Commission

The conference will describe and advance the phenomenal growth of post graduate law programs and the new wave of affordable legal services for groups without access to legal resources. In addition to the basics of creating and implementing incubator programs it will address the impact on law school curricular reform; collaboration between bench, bar and academics; technology and delivery of legal services; evolution of lawyering role models; and access to justice.

Program Schedule

This will be a two-day program beginning Friday, February 27, 2015. Sessions last from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days.

The program will include presentations by leaders and experienced program directors, panel discussions about the challenges and keys to success for various program formats, working groups to address planning and implementing programs, and hands on sessions about using and training for technology to enhance practice.

Day 1: Speaker presentations will identify a wide range of post-graduate programs that currently exist, explore ways to overcome institutional obstacles to new program development and highlight the opportunities and challenges that the speakers have encountered relating to program resources and long-term sustainability. There will also be an introduction to the use of technology for the efficient delivery of services by solos, and an opportunity to hear from current and former incubator participants. Finally there will be an elegant dinner and tour of one of California Western’s Access to Law Initiative offices.

Day 2: Concurrent sessions will address training for solo and small firm practice during law school and within the post graduate programs; entrepreneurship for lawyers and for serving entrepreneurial clients; funding programs and sustainability issues for the participants’ long term practices, dealing with educational debt, and technology workshops. Many of the sessions will be repeated so you do not miss out on topics of interest. A plenary session will give the views from the bench. Finally there will be working groups for participants to do concrete planning and problem solving.

Registration

The cost of the conference is $250 per registrant, which will cover breakfasts, lunches and dinner. *We do not expect a surplus beyond expenses for the conference, but if there are any funds left they will be donated to Access to Law Initiative

If you want to register using a credit card, please use the link below, and if you want to register and pay by check, please click on the link, print out the form and complete it and send it together with your check to Marilyn Jordan, California Western School of Law, 225 Cedar Street, San Diego, CA, 92101."

Where to Stay

The Sheraton Four Points, 1617 First Ave., San Diego, CA 619-239-9600 · 866-716-8133, is located one block from California Western School of Law. Discounted rooms are available for this conference, please use promo code CWSL when making your reservation or by clicking on the convenient link below. The room rate is $125 per night (plus 12.5% tax and resort fees) Thurs., Feb. 26th through Sat. Feb. 28th. The deadline to guarantee this rate is Jan. 23rd, 2015 or while rooms are available. A free shuttle to and from the airport to the hotel is available daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.

The Westgate Hotel, 1055 Second Ave., San Diego, CA 619-238-1818 · 800-221-3802, is located in the heart of downtown San Diego and near the Gaslamp nightlife area, approximately four blocks from the Law School. Discounted rooms are available for this conference by using the reference number 308649 when making your reservation. The room rate is $149 per night (plus 12.5% tax and resort fees) Thurs., Feb. 26th through Sat. Feb. 28th. The deadline to guarantee this rate is Jan. 23rd, 2015 or while rooms are available.

How to Get to California Western School of Law

California Western School of Law is an urban campus located in beautiful downtown San Diego. The campus consists of three buildings, the Administration building at 225 Cedar St., the Law Library at 290 Cedar St., and the Student building at 350 Cedar St. The conference is being hosted in the 350 Cedar St. building.

Via Car

SOUTHBOUND
Interstate 5 South: Exit at Front St. /Civic Center. Take the left fork of the off-ramp toward Second Ave. Off-ramp ends on Cedar St. Cross Second Ave. Continue one block. The 350 building will be on your left. Metered parking is available on the street or you may park in any of the area lots.

NORTHBOUND
Interstate 5 North: Exit at Sixth Ave. towards Downtown. Continue on Elm St. Turn left on Second Ave. Turn left on Cedar St. Continue one block. The 350 building will be on your left. Metered parking is available on the street or you may park in any of the area lots.

Via Plane
CWSL is located approximately ten minutes from the San Diego International Airport, Lindberg Field. Upon arrival, take a local taxi to the Law School (approximate cost: $15 each way). A free shuttle to and from the airport to the Sheraton 4-Points is available daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Call the hotel to make arrangements.

Via Train
Take the Amtrak Coaster or San Diego Trolley to the Downtown/Columbia Street station. From the station, the Law School is a brisk 15 minute walk. Local taxis are also available (approximate cost: $10 each way).

More Information

For questions or additional information, please contact Marilyn Jordan at (619) 525 1407 or by email at mjordan@cwsl.edu or visit the conference website for more complete program information www.cwsl.edu/incubator